We’re not fairly able to ship our remaining verdict on Dragon’s Dogma 2 proper now. Due to circumstances outdoors of our management, we nonetheless want to complete the primary quest, after which try how the sport handles New Sport+ — which was a staple element of the unique Dragon’s Dogma.
Once we’ve wrapped all of that up (hopefully throughout the subsequent couple of days), we’ll be returning to this evaluation so as to difficulty a definitive conclusion and a rating.
Whenever you consider really memorable open world video games, it is laborious to not image the likes of Elden Ring and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Each are finally taking pictures for various targets, however they share a deep appreciation for discovery. Their worlds aren’t outlined by map markers; they’re designed in ways in which push gamers in the direction of the unknown, and that is what makes them so engrossing.
However there was a sport all the way in which again in 2012 that tried to seize that very same sense of journey — and it was known as Dragon’s Dogma. Initially, Capcom’s first actual foray into the fantasy RPG area was sadly overshadowed by Skyrim, however throughout the final half decade or so, the title has firmly established itself as a cult traditional by optimistic phrase of mouth. There’s an argument to be made that Dragon’s Dogma was really forward of its time, with a transparent emphasis on ’emergent’ gameplay depth and a definite lack of handholding — fashionable traits of vital darlings right here in 2024.
And that brings us to Dragon’s Dogma 2 — a a lot deserved sequel that diehard DD followers have been ready 12 years for. Given the present open world panorama, Capcom might have simply modified course and crafted a extra… modernised instance of the style — however no, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is mainly a retread of its predecessor, besides it has been handed the assets and price range that its imaginative and prescient calls for. The result’s an open world motion RPG that sits alongside Elden Ring and Breath of the Wild as one of the absorbing adventures we have ever performed.
The whole lot this sport does, it does in service of the journey. And by that, we imply the overwhelming majority of your playthrough will likely be spent travelling from place to position through the various, many treacherous roads that make up the title’s sprawling map. These pathways are the lifeblood of Dragon’s Dogma 2, providing up close to fixed thrills as you clamber over mountains, edge throughout creaking bridges, and dash between dusty trails. It is peak open world design, each in the way in which it coaxes you ahead with impressive-looking landmarks, and in the way it feels to really interact with the sport’s different geography.
However earlier than we proceed gushing, we should always most likely present a rundown on Dragon’s Dogma as an idea. As was the case within the authentic launch, you play as a totally customisable character referred to as the Arisen. Your (literal) coronary heart stolen by an omnipotent dragon, it is the Arisen’s obligation to trace the winged menace and turn into a hero within the eyes of the folks. Simply to be clear, this is not a direct sequel; data of the primary sport is not in any respect required, though it gives you a higher appreciation for what Dragon’s Dogma 2 is making an attempt to do.
Certainly, this sequel seeks to enhance upon all the pieces that Dragon’s Dogma obtained proper. It doubles down on exploration with a far greater map that is completely filled with secrets and techniques, it fleshes out the motion with extra in-depth character lessons (or vocations, as the sport calls them), and it even strives for a extra nuanced narrative. On that remaining level, the primary sport flirted with political intrigue however by no means fairly embraced it; the storytelling was pretty fleeting, counting on a handful of key cutscenes to specific tone and environment, rather than a extra typical, dialogue-driven plot.
It is a related sort of deal in Dragon’s Dogma 2. There is no query that the narrative takes a backseat to the entire adventuring that you will be doing, however it does attempt to provide a bit extra perception into the societal workings of its fantasy setting. Most of the predominant story quests, for instance, contain courtly plots and characters with questionable motives. It is all very theatrical, particularly by way of writing, which incessantly borders on the type of whimsical script you’d affiliate with Shakespearean stage performs.
It goes with out saying that the sport’s distinctive model of storytelling will not be for everybody — it is actually not the sort of character-focused RPG that we have turn into so accustomed to. However once more, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is all about gameplay, and we would dare recommend {that a} extra concerned narrative would detract from what the title does finest. As a plot that merely bubbles away within the background — and offers you ample excuse to go off on far-flung adventures — it greater than will get the job achieved.
Because it seems, everybody desires a favour from the Arisen. Nobles vie for the chosen one’s affect to additional their very own ambitions, whereas the peasants cry out for assist with their extra humdrum happenings. It is no shock, then, that facet quests are quite a few, sending you up and down the land in quest of eventual glory. Most are genuinely fascinating and add context to the encompassing world, however the targets typically boil right down to go right here, get this, carry it again. Fortunately, that is one other scenario the place the power of the sport’s exploration carries the remainder of the expertise; the act of truly journeying to your vacation spot is often the spotlight of any given quest.
And that is as a result of Dragon’s Dogma 2 goes all-in on making its map as dynamic as attainable. Primarily, random occasions and enemies are key to protecting issues recent. Whether or not it is a pack of squealing goblins or a ox-drawn cart being dismantled by a griffon, there’s virtually all the time one thing mad occurring. There are even instances when complete teams of foes from a close-by cave or bandit camp will likely be drawn into the fray, which leads to utter chaos. You already know in Skyrim whenever you’d see giants and mammoths having a go at wandering guards and assume, “wow, this sport actually feels alive”? Properly, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is like that, however taken to a brand new degree.
There’s additionally a smattering of very refined survival mechanics, which assist preserve that integral sense of journey. As you journey and inevitably interact in fight — there’s quite a lot of fight — your most well being will lower as you are taking injury. At the very least within the sport’s early hours, this step by step degrading well being pool forces you to cease and relaxation after a tricky combat, both at a delegated campsite out within the wilderness, or at an inn. As such, there’s a component of danger versus reward to every tour, and it is enhanced by a beautiful day and evening cycle by which extra harmful monsters (together with horror-tinged creatures, just like the dwelling useless) roam the roads after sundown.
Battling towards these beasts is the place the sport arguably shines brightest. Fight within the authentic Dragon’s Dogma was wonderful as soon as you bought to grips with its barely jank mechanics, and the sequel simply pushes all the pieces ahead. There’s now a formidable smoothness to character animations, whereas each enemy kind comes with its personal bag of tips that you will must cope with. What’s extra, vocations are extremely different of their strategy, resulting in an enthralling diploma of experimentation as you attempt to discover a favorite.
Actually although, it is the texture of fight that is typically excellent — a feat that Capcom has achieved time and time once more over time with titles like Monster Hunter and Satan Could Cry. For the uninitiated, fight revolves round vocations and the strategies that they bestow, however it’s the way you deal with every encounter that issues. Monsters have particular weaknesses — harpies must be blasted out of the air earlier than they’re weak, as an example — and a few vocations are a lot better suited to clobbering sure beasts than others. You may as well use the encompassing terrain to your benefit, leaping onto bigger foes and climbing throughout them in a really Shadow of the Colossus method. It is all brilliantly dynamic, all the time providing other ways to sort out more and more loopy conditions.
In brief, there’s little extra satisfying than touchdown a crushing blow to an ogre’s head, earlier than watching it reel from the impression and crash to the ground. However what separates Dragon’s Dogma from its friends is the way you manufacture that skull-smashing assault within the first place. This can be a party-based system, the place your Arisen is joined on their journey by not-quite-human entities referred to as pawns. These AI-driven companions are central to each gameplay and the story, as they stay and die by the Arisen’s will. In battle, pawns act in line with their prior experiences, providing recommendation in the event that they’re accustomed to a sure foe.
They acquire stated expertise by their adventures with different gamers, and that is actually the crux of the pawn system as an entire. Taking part in on-line is not a requirement — staying offline will see that your sport is populated by randomised Capcom pawns — however an web connection implies that you may encounter pawns from “different worlds”; secondary characters that every participant creates alongside their Arisen. Your predominant pawn is your fixed companion, and will they be employed by one other participant, they’re going to acquire data that may be put to make use of throughout your personal excursions.
When you performed the primary sport, you may already know the pawn system inside-out, and mechanically, it is just about similar right here within the sequel. Having stated that, apparent enhancements have been made to pawn AI. Extra particularly, pawns now combat in line with their vocation. Mages and archers keep at a distance as shield-bearers and warriors wade into the carnage, stopping the moments of sheer frustration that might punctuate battles within the authentic launch.
General, the pawn system stays a novel promoting level. The pawns themselves nonetheless have an underlying weirdness to them, and it is amplified by the addition of pawn-to-pawn banter. New gamers would possibly query why co-op is not no less than an choice, however there isn’t any denying simply how endearing your trusty pawns may be, particularly whenever you’re shoulder to shoulder within the warmth of battle.
Talking of which, getting busy on the battlefield might be whenever you’ll discover the one best flaw of Dragon’s Dogma 2. We’re, in fact, referring to its uncapped body price, which is able to fluctuating wherever between what seems like 15 and 60 frames-per-second on PS5. Now, an important factor to notice is that 90 p.c of the time, the title runs at a (comparatively) regular 30fps — and the sport performs so easily that the majority gamers most likely will not even discover the extra minor dips. Nevertheless, when issues get hectic in the course of a highway that is full of vegetation, after which the sport has to render loopy magic spell results over all the pieces, the body price can tank.
Hilariously, when you pan the digital camera to the sky — away from the entire timber, grasses, particles, lighting results, and shadows — you may see the body price skyrocket to a strong 60. That is additionally the case whenever you enter The Rift — an interdimensional (and most significantly, barren) aircraft the place you possibly can recruit pawns. The highs and lows of an uncapped body price are clear, then, however we stay in hope that Capcom can optimise the title post-launch.
It is an actual disgrace, as a result of visually, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is usually picturesque. The environmental element — notably out within the wilds — is beautiful, and the lighting is immaculate. At instances, it seems to be like a correct current-gen launch — one thing that may by no means run on a PS4. Actually, our solely presentational gripe is with the distinctly missing dialogue animations. Lip-syncing is barely a factor outdoors of full-on cutscenes, and we swear that among the inventory animations are taken straight from the primary sport. Jarring stuff, particularly when the remainder of the discharge seems to be so effectively realised.